| It’s May!!
Welcome Spring time! This month’s theme is celebrating physical
education and sports, and as I was brainstorming I realized that
there are all kinds of celebrations and holidays that are observed
around the globe. As I was thinking about this, the obvious idea
surfaced, “Why don’t I feature different events from
around the world?” As diversity becomes more and more prevalent,
learning and embracing each other’s culture becomes important.
Teaching students about different cultures supports the acceptance
of diversity.
Through out this section, I will feature just a FEW celebrations
that occur in May around the world, I will also include some ideas
for games from that culture. In addition, I’ve included an
abstract that questions whether our assumptions of a person, due
to race or culture, supersede the actual performance of that person.
As we enter the month of May, let us celebrate diversity.
Dawn Sakaguchi
Interdisciplinary Section Editor
|
| from
Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology
Stereotype threat occurs when knowledge of a negative stereotype
about a social group leads to less-than-optimal performance by members
of that group. Although the stereotype threat phenomenon has been
extensively studied in academic and cognitively-based tasks, it
has received little attention in sport.
This article reviews the existent literature on stereotype threat
and discusses its implications for sports performance. The causal
mechanisms of stereotype threat in sport are examined, followed
by a discussion of why the cognitive processes thought to govern
negative stereotype-induced performance decrements in academic and
cognitively based tasks (e.g., GRE or SAT tests) may not unequivocally
extend to sport skills.
Finally, factors that should moderate the impact of stereotype
threat in sport are outlined. Because stereotype threat has important
consequences for athletics (e.g., impairing athletic performance,
maintaining the under-representation of minority athletes in certain
sports), it is a phenomenon that deserves greater attention in sport
and exercise psychology research.
Beilock, S.L., McConnell, A.R. (2004).
Stereotype
threat and sport: can athletic performance be threatened? Journal
of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 26 (4). |
 |
by
Jean Blaydes
This section within the Interdisciplinary page is updated
each month with a new idea from Jean Blayde's book "Thinking
on Your Feet." |
| This month
we are featuring an activity called
Head and Shoulders Knees and Toes in Spanish. This is
going along with theme of learning about other cultures around
the world. It gives students the opportunity to learn words
in another language. |
| Find out more information about
Jean Blaydes and Action
Based Learning. |
|
| If you have ideas, comments,
letters to share, or questions about particular topics, please
email one of the following Health & Fitness Section Editors:
|
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|
 |
| What
are some of your methods for making physical education cross-curricular,
incorporating PE with subjects such as English, Math, Spelling,
etc., in your classroom? Please post your answers in the
forum.
|
|
| May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii |
| Lei Day is
held on May 1st, and recognizes the symbol of the lei. What is
a lei? As stated from the City and County of Honolulu website
“The lei known the world over, is a symbol of aloha. Great
care is taken into the gathering of the materials to make a lei.
After the materials are gathered, they are prepared and then fashioned
into a lei. As this is done, the mana (or spirit) of the creator
of the lei is sewn or woven into it. Therefore, when you give
a lei, you are giving a part of you. Likewise, as you receive
a lei, you are receiving a part of the creator of the lei.”
The first Lei Day was in 1927. It was a suggestion by Don Blanding
who wanted to recognize the custom of lei giving and receiving.
In 1928, the first lei queen was Nina Bowman. The custom was first
celebrated in Honolulu by people downtown wearing leis, however
as time passed the popularity of this celebration has grown.
When I was growing up in Hawaii, I remember always looking forward
to May because every grade level would learn a hula, and on May
Day there would be a big assembly where we would perform in front
of the entire school. Each year there would be a May Day court.
The court consisted of a queen, a king, and a princess representing
each of the eight islands. Each island was symbolized by a type
of lei and was portrayed by certain colors.
For more information please visit: The
History of the Lei and Each
Island has it’s own Lei.
A Couple Hawaiian Games
 |
Ulu
maika (Hawaiian Bowling)
This game is a little like bowling, there are two stakes that
are pounded into the ground and a lava rock (rolling stone)
was used to roll between the stakes. |
|
Pala’ie (Loop and Ball Game)
What
is it? How
to make it? Have students assemble and play the loop and
ball game. The object of the game is to get the tapa ball
into the loop. |
|
| History
Cinco De Mayo also known as “Battle of Puebla Day"
occurs on May 5th. World
Book Online states that, “Cinco de Mayo commemorates
the victory of a Mexican army over a French army at the Battle
of Puebla on May 5, 1862. The Mexican army, led by General Ignacio
Zaragoza, won the battle even though the French force was better
armed and three times as large. The battle occurred after Emperor
Napoleon III of France sent troops to Mexico to conquer the country.
Despite the Mexican victory at Puebla, the French later gained
control of Mexico City and established a French-supported government
there. In 1866 and 1867, however, France withdrew its troops from
Mexico because of resistance by many Mexicans and pressure from
the United States. The French-backed government soon fell.”
How is it celebrated around the world?
Excerpt from Mexico Online: “Celebrating Cinco de Mayo has
become increasingly popular along the U.S.-Mexico border and in
parts of the U.S. that have a high population of people with a
Mexican heritage. In these areas the holiday is a celebration
of Mexican culture, of food, music, beverage, and customs unique
to Mexico.
Commercial interests in the United States and Mexico have also
been successful in promoting the holiday, with products and services
focused on Mexican food, beverages and festivities, and with music
playing a more visible role as well. Several cities throughout
the U.S. hold parades and concerts during the week leading up
to May 5th, so that Cinco de Mayo has become a bigger holiday
north of the border than to the south, and adopted into the holiday
calendar of more and more people every year. “
Cinco de Mayo is celebrated in different ways around the world.
reference: Website -
Mexico Online
Games
|
Cinco
de Mayo Games and Activities
This site has a list of crafts and games to help you celebrate
Cinco de Mayo. There is a piñata activity, a game called
Freeze, and Jalapeno Hop. Check it Out. |
|
Mexican
Hat Dance
This site gives you step by step instructions on how to do
the Mexican Hat Dance. |
|
Pinata
(Kinderart)
This site provides instructions on how to make a piñata.
It also has a resources relating to the piñata. Below
I have included resources about the history of the piñata. |
| |
-- |
History
of the Piñata
|
| -- |
Pinata
|
| -- |
A
History of Piñatas |
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|
| Tango No Sekku (Boy's Day) |
| Also
known as Children’s Day (Kodomo no hi)
Excerpt from: Web
Japan Annual Calendar
“May 5 is Children's Day, when families celebrate the healthy
growth and happiness of children. It became a national holiday in
1948, but it has been a day of celebration in Japan since ancient
times.
The fifth day of the fifth month was traditionally called Tango
no Sekku and was a festival for boys. Girls have their own festival,
called Hina Matsuri (Doll Festival), held on the third day of the
third month.
On Children's Day, families with boys fly huge carp-shaped streamers
(koinobori) outside the house and display dolls of famous warriors
and other heroes inside. The carp was chosen because it symbolizes
strength and success; according to a Chinese legend, a carp swam
upstream to become a dragon”
For more information visit Web
Japan.
Games
From: Nipponia
Daruma-san
ga koronda
One person is "it". Instead of counting to ten, "it"
says, "Daruma-san ga koronda."(In fact, there are
10 syllables in the sentence, which means, "The daruma
doll fell over.") For the other players, the object of
the game is to get close to whoever is "it" without
him seeing them move.
|
 Hanaichimonme
This is an outdoor game for many people. Everyone sings a short
ditty while playing.
|
Menko
This is generally a boys' game. It is as old as beigoma. Pieces
called menko have pictures on one side. The pictures are of
heroes popular among boys during the era when played —
samurai, famous sports players, heroes from comics, and so on.
Winners keep their opponents' menko. |
|
| Books on Multiculturalism |
Multicultural
Approach to Physical Education, A - Proven Strategies for Middle and
High School
by: Rhonda Clements
|
Boost self-esteem and
promote understanding of other cultures |
|
Teach responsibility, social skills, and respect
for differences through fun activities |
|
Hold students’ interest with fresh content
- even with large groups |
Multicultural
Games by: Lorraine Barbarash
Multicultural Games provides ideas and strategies that will help
your students develop an awareness of and appreciation for other
cultures while enjoying physical activity.
Multicultural
Folk Dance Treasure Chest, Volume 1 - Video with Cassette
(NTSC) - From: Human Kinetics
Now, popular dance instructor Christy Lane combines the benefits
of a multicultural program with the excitement of dance in the Multicultural
Folk Dance Treasure Chest. Featuring 18 authentic ethnic dances,
this complete teaching resource consists of two volumes, each containing
a video, a printed guide, and music. The videos show you how to
teach the dances as they are taught by expert instructors. The guides
complement the videos by offering dance directions, background information,
and valuable teaching tips. And the music-available on compact discs
or audiocassettes-has been carefully selected and recorded specifically
for the Treasure Chest.
|
|
Eat
Right! - A Nutritional Art Activity |
|
Food
Pyramid Book and Game |
|
Salad
Party - This is a great activity to help
students realize how important plants are in our diets
and in our world. It improves classifying skills, increases
knowledge of plant parts, provides a cooperative learning
experience, and takes the place of an "all sugar
treats" party. It also involves home and parents
in our studies. |
|
The
Good Food Climb: Featuring The Critter Kids.
A nutrition activity guide for preschool teachers and
caregivers. |
|
Activities
& Curriculum - a site to check out for
the younger kids! Lots of interdisciplinary physical activities
here. |
|
The
Food Safety Coloring Book - There are many
rules to remember about food safety. Choose the most important
rule. Print the coloring book page that goes with the
rule. Color the printed page and add it to your collection
of work. |
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